Compressed-air-cushion block for piling.



, Nd. 873,517. .v

- 0. 0.05 WITT. COMPRESSED AI R CUSHION BLOCK FOR FILING.

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HHVQH I PATENTED DEC. 10, 19 07;

UNITED STATES PATENT.- OFFICE.

CLINTON c. DE;wi'rT,-oF s'r. LoUIs, IssoURI, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T FRANK L. AYMOND, p on ST. LoUIs, MISSOURI.

i cushion blockutilized on the, upper end-of GOMPRESSED-AIR-GUSHION BLOCK FOR PILING.

No; era-517.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Dec. 10, 1901- Application filed July 15.1907. Serial No. 383.728.

To all whom it may eomi rti I Be it known that I, (hirrroiq CJDE Wrrr, acitizen of the United'States, andresident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressed-Air-Gushion Blocks for' Filing, of which the following is drawings, forming a p'arthereof.

y invention relates to av compressed air concrete piling when the same 1s eing driven into the ground, and the object of my'inven- 'tionis to construct a two-part block in which is formed a chamber which receives air, and

which latter is compressed as the upper part of the'block moves downward when struck by'th'e hammer of the pile d1'iver,'thus form-, ing'a pneumatic cushion on the upper end of the lpiling, and which does away with the brea age of the piling at the upper end thereof where the same is directly engaged by i the hammer of the pile driver.

To the above purposes; my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be herenafter more fully set forth, ointed out inthe claims, and illustrated int e accompanyv in drawings, in which:..

; block of my improved construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower member of the cushion block; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line -44- of closed," and there beinga recess 2 formed in the top of this member, and which recess is adapted to receive-a wooden block 3, which acts as an anvil or striking surface for the u hammer of the pile drive frame.

Formed integral with the body of the 1118111;

ber 1; on opposite sides thereof, are the vertically disposed pairs of flangeset, which perform the function of guides and engage the yertically disposed uprights ofthe pile driver' Fitted on the interior of the member.

'1 is a lining or bushing 5', of brass, or analogous -material, which provides a perfectly smooth bearing surface on the interior of said a specification containing a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to; the accompanying l0 orm of a- .hollow cylinder, with "the upper-end being wh ch are utilized in hoisting the block into member. Formed-integral the member 7 1, adjacent the upper end t hereof, are lugs 6,"

[JOSltiOIl'fOI' use, and passing through the wall of the member 1, and communicating with the air chamber-11 on the interior thereof is a short pipe, or, nipple 7, in which is located a valve 8', said d'pipeproviding means whereby J air may be The lower or ehvered t'o orallowed to discharge from the air chamber.'- i i iston member 9 of the block is of cylindrica ,form, and provided at its lower endwith an'integral flange 10, in the.

under side of which is formed a recess 11," adapted to receive the upper end of the iling; and formed. on op osite sides of t 's flange 10 are the verticaiiy disposed pairs of guides 12, which, when 1n use, are alined with f the guides 4 and bear on the. uprights of the pile driver. frame.

Formed integral with the outer face of the fla e 10 are lugs-13, similar to the 111 s 6, and which are utilized when the block is eing hoisted into position for use.

The exterior of the block 9 is provided with a shell or bushi -14, of brass or analogous material, which%ts snugly within the bush mg 5, and the parts-are so constructed-as that an air tight joint is formed between the apparatus isin use.

Formed in the periphery of the shell 14 is. a I series of horizontall disposed shallow grooves 15, which may he filled with a suit' able liquid, and thus act as a seal or packing to'prevent the escape of air from the-Interior of the block; or, if desired,suitabl e packing rings may be embedded in the surface of the shell 14.

Formed in the up er end of the block 9 isa vertically disposed passageway 16, which communicates'at its lower endwith a horizontally disposed passageway -17, thus forming a relief vent to permit the escape of air .bushing 5 and shell 14, thus preventing the I escape of air from thechamber 1' when the gure 1 is a perspective View of a cushion {.10 manner.

block 3. By eningthe valve 8 and allowing a portion 0' the air trappedin'the chamber 1 to escape, the normal position of the member 1 uponthe member 9 can be accu- 5 rately regulated. The block 9 is now positioned on top of the pile tobe driven, with the upper end of said pile located in the recess 31,". and the hammer of the pile driver or steam hammer is now operated inthe usual The hammer striking upon the block 3 compresses the air in the chamber .1 and the cushioning effect'obtained by this compression breaks the force of the im act between the lower end of the block 9 an the upper end of the pile, thus preventing the upper portion of the pile from being shattered as a result of the driving blows of the hammer.- The member 9 acts the same as a piston within themember 1, and the brass shell 14. operating in the brass bushing -5 slides freely, with little friction; and, as the two parts are fitted'accurately, the air under compression cannot escape from the chamber within the member 1. The grooves 15 are adapted to receive liquid, which forms an additional protection to prevent the escape .of air; and where oil isfmade use of in said grooves, thesurfaces of the shell 14 and bushing 5 are lubricated; The passageways 16 and 17 form a-relief or escape for the air should the member 1 be elevated too far when airis pumped into the chamber 1 and thus the 'memberl cannot be accidentally" liftedoif themember 9 by over-pumping.-

The block 3, of wood 'or analogous material,

serves as an anvilor striking surface for the hammer, and thus prevents the upper end of the member 1 from-being battered by the successives-trokes of the hammer. A cushion block of my improved construction comprises a minimum number of arts, can be used in connection with an or inary pile driver or with a steam hammer, and is particularly adapted for use in driving .piles' constructed of concrete, or of' concrete and metal.

I claim:-- I 1. A'cushionblock of the class "described, comprising a pair of telescoping members, and between which-members is formed an *air chamber.

2 A cushion block of the class described,

comprising. a pair of telescoping members,

between which members is formed an air chamber, and there being guide grooves {)ormed on the sides of said telescoping memers.

3. A cushion. block of the class described, comprising a pair of telescoping members, between which members is formed an air chamber, an anvil block carried by the u per one of the telescoping .members, and ugs formed integral with each of the members.

4. A cushion block of the class described, comprising a pair of telescoping members, between which members is formed an air chamber, and an anvil block carried by the upper one of the telescoping members.

5. A cushion block, comprising a pair of telescoping members, between which is formed an air chamber, a bushing arranged in the outer one of the members and a shell arranged on the bearing face of the inner member.

.6. A cushion block, comprising a pair of telescoping members, between which is formed anair chamber, a bushing arranged 'in theouter one of the members, a shell arranged on the bearing face of the innermemher, and there being packing grooves formed in the surface of the. shell.

. 7. A cushion block of the class described,

comprising apair of telescoping'members,

between which members is formed an air chamber, and lugs formed integral with each of the members.

8., A-cushion block of the class described, comprising a pair of telescoping members, between which. members is formed an air chamber, an anvil block carried by the 11 'per one of the telescoping members, and t ere beinga recess formed 1n the under side of the lower member.

9. A cushion block of the class described, comprising a pair. of telescoping members, between which members is formed an air chamber, and means whereby air is delivered to and discharged from theair chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

CLINTON c. be WITT.

Witnesses: v

M. P. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE. 

